Published: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 11, 2013 at 6:11 p.m.

Thousands of battle-hardened soldiers have returned from the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan to find their home a different world — a world where jobs and homes are not guaranteed.

They survived the throes of a distant land only to return to fight the rising statistics of homelessness, joblessness and suicide. Even a local program created to help them faced a cut in funding this year. But on Monday, at a former hotel in Asheville, the money-strapped program received a donation and a ray of hope.

Jeff Miller, founder of HonorAir, and Larry Rostetter, chairman of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball games, presented a check for $40,000 to the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry for its “Operation Welcome Home.” The ministry's Veterans Restoration Quarters, operating in a former 125-room motel on Tunnel Road, and its nearby Steadfast House for women and children together house more than 150 veterans.

The ABCCM works to transform the lives of veterans and reintegrate them back into the community in which they live.

Aside from providing transitional housing, the ministry trains veterans for employment and helps them find stability through a warm, safe place to stay, three meals a day and case management.

Through “Operation Welcome Home,” the organization is able to provide the funds for training and education that lead to new career paths.

“We've been doing this since 2002, specifically with veterans' employment training,” said the Rev. Scott Rogers, ABCCM's executive director. “As of July, we've trained 274 on our way to a goal of over 300 for training this year.”

Eighty-nine percent of the ministry's veterans 18 months ago were still on the job and earning above living wages.

In July 2012, the program was recognized as one of the four best practices in the nation for veterans. Earlier this year, Rogers testified before the Senate to explain how his program is able to place veterans into twice as many jobs with half the cost of other programs. It's all about the community, he explained.

“If you want to reintegrate veterans into the community, then you have to bring the community in so they have those relationships to back them up,” he said.

A team of churches and veterans service organizations work together with the ministry to make it a success. When the mission lost a chunk of its funding in July — a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor — it was the community that helped them carry on, raising $154,000 for the mission in four months.

“This has made up for it in a big way,” Rogers said, eyeing the oversized check and latest gift of support. “It's most exciting to be here on Veterans Day to celebrate this.”

HonorAir hosted the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball games over the summer to raise money for “Operation Welcome Home.”

“This just became another opportunity for HonorAir to jump in and help folks that were very worthy,” Miller said. “HonorAir is proud to do it.”

The ministry strives to place veterans into career-level employment where they can “move into housing and not just meet their basic necessities, but really reintegrate into the community as full participants,” Rogers said. “The big key in that is having the churches and the veterans service organizations” support their veterans, and the ministry's mission to help them.

“The Veteran Restoration Quarters houses 250 a night, with 148 veteran per diem beds, 18 intake beds, six civilian beds, 18 emergency shelter beds and 50 permanent supportive housing units. The Steadfast House for women and children houses 26 single women and seven moms and their children, with 10 beds designated for female veterans,” according to the ministry.

“ABCCM is a nonprofit organization addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness and access to health care for the under-served in Buncombe County. Begun as a small collaboration of churches in 1969, ABCCM has played a significant role in meeting emergency assistance needs for families.”

The major sponsors for the Wounded Warrior summer games were Mission Hospital, Pardee Hospital, Borg Warner and Budweiser of Asheville.

<p>Thousands of battle-hardened soldiers have returned from the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan to find their home a different world — a world where jobs and homes are not guaranteed.</p><p>They survived the throes of a distant land only to return to fight the rising statistics of homelessness, joblessness and suicide. Even a local program created to help them faced a cut in funding this year. But on Monday, at a former hotel in Asheville, the money-strapped program received a donation and a ray of hope. </p><p>Jeff Miller, founder of HonorAir, and Larry Rostetter, chairman of the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball games, presented a check for $40,000 to the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry for its “Operation Welcome Home.” The ministry's Veterans Restoration Quarters, operating in a former 125-room motel on Tunnel Road, and its nearby Steadfast House for women and children together house more than 150 veterans.</p><p>The ABCCM works to transform the lives of veterans and reintegrate them back into the community in which they live. </p><p>Aside from providing transitional housing, the ministry trains veterans for employment and helps them find stability through a warm, safe place to stay, three meals a day and case management. </p><p>Through “Operation Welcome Home,” the organization is able to provide the funds for training and education that lead to new career paths. </p><p>“We've been doing this since 2002, specifically with veterans' employment training,” said the Rev. Scott Rogers, ABCCM's executive director. “As of July, we've trained 274 on our way to a goal of over 300 for training this year.”</p><p>Eighty-nine percent of the ministry's veterans 18 months ago were still on the job and earning above living wages.</p><p>In July 2012, the program was recognized as one of the four best practices in the nation for veterans. Earlier this year, Rogers testified before the Senate to explain how his program is able to place veterans into twice as many jobs with half the cost of other programs. It's all about the community, he explained.</p><p>“If you want to reintegrate veterans into the community, then you have to bring the community in so they have those relationships to back them up,” he said.</p><p>A team of churches and veterans service organizations work together with the ministry to make it a success. When the mission lost a chunk of its funding in July — a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor — it was the community that helped them carry on, raising $154,000 for the mission in four months.</p><p>“This has made up for it in a big way,” Rogers said, eyeing the oversized check and latest gift of support. “It's most exciting to be here on Veterans Day to celebrate this.”</p><p>HonorAir hosted the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball games over the summer to raise money for “Operation Welcome Home.” </p><p>“This just became another opportunity for HonorAir to jump in and help folks that were very worthy,” Miller said. “HonorAir is proud to do it.”</p><p>The ministry strives to place veterans into career-level employment where they can “move into housing and not just meet their basic necessities, but really reintegrate into the community as full participants,” Rogers said. “The big key in that is having the churches and the veterans service organizations” support their veterans, and the ministry's mission to help them.</p><p>“The Veteran Restoration Quarters houses 250 a night, with 148 veteran per diem beds, 18 intake beds, six civilian beds, 18 emergency shelter beds and 50 permanent supportive housing units. The Steadfast House for women and children houses 26 single women and seven moms and their children, with 10 beds designated for female veterans,” according to the ministry. </p><p>“ABCCM is a nonprofit organization addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness and access to health care for the under-served in Buncombe County. Begun as a small collaboration of churches in 1969, ABCCM has played a significant role in meeting emergency assistance needs for families.”</p><p>The major sponsors for the Wounded Warrior summer games were Mission Hospital, Pardee Hospital, Borg Warner and Budweiser of Asheville.</p><p>Reach Weaver at Emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>